The performance of a number from the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade had America all a-Twitter. It had the bigots out in force, at least judging from headlines such as this one, with all its old-fashioned loaded language: Here is a video of the performance of the song “Raise You Up/Just Be”:

This controversy is ironic for me, given my review of Kinky Boots when the show opened in April, which begins: “Is it a shock to say that “Kinky Boots” just isn’t kinky enough?….“Kinky Boots” is professionally put together, it’s entertaining…and it’s both safe and familiar.”

I’m baffled that parents feel they need to “explain” to their three-year-olds performers wearing red boots, but not, say, a 100-foot Pillsbury Doughboy.

Update: Non-exclusive statement from Harvey Fierstein, who with songwriter Cyndi Lauper adapted the movie of Kinky Boots for the stage: “I’m so proud that the cast of KINKY BOOTS brought their message of tolerance and acceptance to America’s parade. Ten years ago I was humbled to ride a float dressed as Mrs. Claus and it was the thrill of a lifetime. Congratulations to Macy’s, on leading the world, not only with your salesmanship, but also your humanity.” (He must not have shopped there recently.)

So now people are reportedly shopping at Macy’s to show their support of human rights. Who says miracles no longer exist?

Second update: Floating around online is this terrific sermon about Kinky Boots by Virginia-Highland Church Senior Pastor Michael Piazza of Atlanta. He preached this about six weeks before the to-do at the Thanksgiving Day Parade.